28

Sep

Drug cocktails being done in clandestine laboratories

DRUGS and illegal substances are fast flooding our communities in every form and name and taking over the lives of the youth of today. A lot of drug cocktails are being done in clandestine laboratories and worse more some within the school yards with the authorities unknowing.

Some homes have been turned to drug joints when the guardians are away.

I bumped into some homemade crystal meth which had been cooked in one of our school laboratories and very lethal it was, as l found these youths really stoned in their school uniforms in one of the city’s secluded alleys that have been turned into a drug joint by these youths.

As if this was not enough some of our girl children decided to turn themselves into drug entrepreneurs and used their food and nutrition laboratory to make some space cakes (drug laced scones) which they would sell to others within the school. The girl child tasted too much of the dough and the effects took its toll and they were unable to control themselves because of the effects and they began to see strange things and behaving strangely and that is how this came to light.

Food for thought for parents. How many of our kids have been exposed and how much have they been affected? It’s quickly turning to a reality that we are raising a generation that will not live to its full potential because of drugs and substances of abuse and something has to be done fast if they are to be rescued.

Crystal meth is also known as Tik, this is the short name for crystal methamphetamine. This is a white crystalline drug that people take by snorting it, smoking it or injecting it with a needle. The users all develop a strong desire to continue using it because the drug creates a false sense of happiness and well-being, a rush (strong feeling) of confidence, hyper activeness and energy. One also experiences a decreased appetite. These drug effects generally last from six to eight hours but can last up to 24 hours.

The experience might involve some pleasure, but from the start, methamphetamine begins to destroy the user’s life.

This is because it creates a false sense of well-being and energy and as such a person will tend to push their body faster and further than it is meant to go. The users will experience a “crash” or physical and mental breakdown after the effects of the drug wear off.

Crystal meth is made out of various chemicals, some very dangerous to one’s health hence its stoning effect. It is now more common at Beitbridge under the name “chitombo” and is now doing rounds in our schools around Bulawayo and other parts of the country are not excluded as the drug culture is fast spreading.